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Teaching About God to the Next Generation

Key Verse[s]: Colossians 3:1-16

Teaching About God to the Next Generation

Illustration

  1. Cold War
  • State of hostility between U.S. led & Soviet led countries
    • Began following use of atomic bomb 1945
    • Officially ended with collapse of USSR in 91
  • More than conflict between weaponry and power
    • It was a war for the mind, ideals, and way of living
  • Before Ronald Reagan was president (California governor; inaugural speech) he addressed California saying the following,

“Perhaps you and I have lived too long with this miracle to properly be appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people.  And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.”

2. Pass it On

  • Victory already won:
  • Joy made complete in knowing this Truth
    • But with freedom and victory in Christ, the world still reaches for the silver lining of truth
      • The slaves in Galveston, Texas, hadn’t heard the news that the Civil War, and their salvation is coming soon
  1. The war between death and life is won
  • But being isolated from Jesus Christ (the way, the truth, and the life), anything they are being told is a lie!
    • Q. What can we do?
  • The answer is simple:
  • Pass it on!
    • Whenever you get the chance; Pass it on
  • Let us verbally open our mouths and tell people
    • “The war is over, Christ is victorious, and He is offering you a chance to join the winning side”

4.         The Next Generation

  1. “Passing truth on” is becoming more and difficult
  • A wise man once that with the “freedom of speech comes the freedom to listen”
    • As Christians, the freedom to listen is our friend and enemy
      • Why?
        • Romans 10:17; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
  • If someone doesn’t first stop and listen, they won’t hear
  • At the same time, this is one of the beautiful things about the Gospel
    • God did not create robots to love Him:
    • In His perfect compassion, He allowed the choice to love Him
  • Jesus Himself, submitted His will to the Father (John 7:17)
    • This submission to Truth pleases God
  • Today’s generation is listening to a lot of voices, some of which God allows
    • In every dispensation & age, God gives the choice of life and allows the alternative.
      • “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil”- Deuteronomy 30:15
  1. Conduct is Important.
  • Church father Francis of Assissi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
    • Its witty, but contributes to the growing problem of Biblical illiteracy from generation to generation
  • Salvation is not hingent on living a good life, it is hingent on the truth that Christ fulfilled the Law and made a way for sinners, by His death, burial and resurrection. 
  • People are more comfortable with “living like Christian” but until “we speak like a Christian and share the Good news,” our example is going to lead people straight to Hell.
    • The sad thing is in this case, they are going to Hell and we are going to Heaven
      • Silence is not worth the eternal consequences to the unbeliever
  1. Colossians 3:1-16
  • We are to set our mind on those things which are above (3:1)
  • Put on charity (Action words), set an example (3:14)
  • Teaching and admonishing one another (3:16)
    • With (3:16), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
  • Read Ephesians 2:8-10
    • By Faith in the Word of Truth, Christ’s Gospel, we are saved and standing is in Him; unmovable.
    • Christ has a plan for your life, to walk in the good works set before you

5.     What does it look like?

What does this intentionality for the lost look like? How do I achieve it?

  • Like most things in life, you must first evaluate yourself.
  • What does your life look like? Identify opportunities.
    • Beautiful story in Acts 8:26-39
      • Philip was traveling under guidance of the Holy Spirit
      • Finds eunuch who was a servant of the queen, relaxing and reading the Book of Isaiah
      • Philip took this opportunity to ask if he understood what He was reading. The eunuch replied,
        • “How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.”
          • The rest is history

6. No secret formula or 12 step process better than willingness to open your mouth and ask:

  • “Do you understand what your reading?”
  • “Do you understand that Jesus loves you?”
  • “Do you understand what Jesus did for you?”
  • “Do you understand that Heaven and Hell are real places?”
  • “Do you understand that I care about you?”
  • “Do you understand God cares about you?”
  • “Do you understand that you can have peace in a world that makes absolutely no sense and is lying to you, everyday of your life”
  • “Do you want something that makes sense? Just believe?”
  • “Do you understand and believe that Christ died, was buried, and rose again on the third day for you?”
    • “Oh, you do? Welcome to the Family of God!”

6.  Conclusion

  1. Conduct with Truth is a powerful tool
  • It’s manipulation free and important if our goal is to make,
    • “And to make all men [women] see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9)

3 thoughts on “Teaching About God to the Next Generation”

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